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Ranking the 30 Ballon d’Or nominees

By Carter Mulvihill

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND - JANUARY 11: FIFA Ballon dOr 2015 nominees Lionel Messi of Argentina and FC Barcelona and Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal and Real Madrid answer media questions during the FIFA Ballon dOr 2015 press conference prior to the FIFA Ballon d'Or Gala 2015 at the Kongresshaus on January 11, 2016 in Zurich, Switzerland. (Photo by Stuart Franklin - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
ZURICH, SWITZERLAND - JANUARY 11: FIFA Ballon dOr 2015 nominees Lionel Messi of Argentina and FC Barcelona and Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal and Real Madrid answer media questions during the FIFA Ballon dOr 2015 press conference prior to the FIFA Ballon d'Or Gala 2015 at the Kongresshaus on January 11, 2016 in Zurich, Switzerland. (Photo by Stuart Franklin - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images) /
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23. Koke

MILAN, ITALY – MAY 28: Koke of Atletico Madrid in action during the UEFA Champions League final between Real Madrid and Club Atletico Madrid at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, San Siro on May 28, 2016 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)
MILAN, ITALY – MAY 28: Koke of Atletico Madrid in action during the UEFA Champions League final between Real Madrid and Club Atletico Madrid at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, San Siro on May 28, 2016 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images) /

When a country’s generation is filled with all-time great players, there’s a natural inclination to look for a successor the second those players retire or at least start to fall off.

For Spain, the two jewels of its golden generation are Xavi and Andres Iniesta. Neither player can truly be replaced, particularly when it came to the pair’s success in major international tournaments. But if there is a young Spanish midfielder worthy of that level of admiration, it’s Koke.

Considered the glue of Atletico Madrid’s success under Diego Simeone, Koke has already done enough to earn the label of Spain’s next great midfielder. He’s even earned the praise of Xavi himself.

As this year’s list of Ballon d’Or nominations has shown, Atletico not only possesses world-class talents, they possess winning players as well. Koke certainly belongs in both those categories.

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